India-West Indies T20I series ends 2-2: Nayar calls shared trophy fitting
Synopsis
A five-match T20I series that nobody expected to be close ended with a shared trophy — and a washed-out final in Bengaluru. Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar called the 2-2 result fitting, arguing West Indies had earned their share of the silverware by winning twice against a side heavily favoured to dominate at home.
Key Takeaways
The India vs West Indies five-match T20I series ended 2-2 , with both teams sharing the trophy.
The Bengaluru decider was washed out after just 7.4 overs due to persistent rain.
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said a nine-over shootout would have been an unfair way to decide the series winner.
West Indies won twice in the series, defying pre-series expectations of an easy Indian victory.
Nayar described the series as 'tough' for Team India at home, praising both sides' performances.
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has described the 2-2 drawn conclusion to the India vs West Indies five-match T20I series as a fair and deserving result, asserting that a rain-shortened nine-over decider would have been an unjust way to crown a winner. The series finale in Bengaluru on Saturday, 18 October 2026, was washed out after just 7.4 overs of play, leaving both nations to share the trophy.
What Nayar Said
'Just looking at how this series has panned out, I feel it deserves to be 2-2 in a lot of ways because both teams played really good cricket. It would have been really unfortunate for the series to come down to a nine-over game to decide which team actually takes that cup away,' Nayar told JioStar.
He added: 'It is fair to say that both teams have played the best cricket they could, and to end this series 2-2 is a statement of how well both teams have played and how tough a series it has been for Team India at home.'
How the Series Unfolded
Both sides had secured two victories each across the first four matches before arriving at the Bengaluru decider. The contest had been tightly poised throughout, with West Indies resisting what many expected to be a one-sided home advantage for India. Persistent rain, however, denied the final match a proper conclusion, with play restricted to just 7.4 overs before the fixture was called off.
West Indies' Performance in Context
Nayar was effusive in his praise for the Caribbean side, acknowledging that the general expectation before the series was an Indian victory. 'When they came in, it felt like India would easily beat them,' he noted, underlining how West Indies' ability to win twice fundamentally altered that narrative. This is a significant result for a West Indies team building its credentials in the shortest format ahead of future ICC events.
What Happens Next
With the series ending in a share of the spoils, both teams will take confidence from the outcome — India from their resilience on home soil, and West Indies from proving they can compete with one of the format's strongest sides. Cricket boards are yet to announce scheduling for further bilateral encounters, but the closely fought series is likely to raise the profile of future India-West Indies T20I contests.
Point of View
Even if rain shoulders part of the blame for the undecided finale. The fact that West Indies — widely expected to be outclassed — claimed two wins points to vulnerabilities in India's T20I setup that a shared trophy tends to obscure. Nayar's framing of the result as 'fitting' is generous to both sides, but the harder question is whether India's home dominance in T20Is is as watertight as assumed. For West Indies, two wins on Indian soil is genuine currency heading into the next ICC cycle.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final result of the India vs West Indies T20I series 2026?
The series ended 2-2, with both India and West Indies sharing the trophy after the Bengaluru decider was washed out due to rain. Only 7.4 overs of play were possible in the final match.
Why was the Bengaluru T20I decider abandoned?
Persistent rain in Bengaluru brought the fifth and deciding T20I to an early end on Saturday, with only 7.4 overs bowled. The conditions did not allow enough play to complete even a shortened contest.
What did Abhishek Nayar say about the series result?
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said the 2-2 result was deserving, as both teams played high-quality cricket throughout the series. He added that reducing the decider to a nine-over game would have been an unfair way to determine the winner.
How did West Indies perform in the T20I series against India?
West Indies won two of the five matches, matching India's tally and defying expectations of a comfortable Indian win on home soil. Nayar acknowledged that before the series, most had expected India to win easily.
What happens now after the 2-2 series draw?
Both teams share the trophy, with no further matches in this series scheduled. The result is expected to boost West Indies' confidence in the T20 format, while India will reflect on a series that proved tougher than anticipated at home.
